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Every single day, volunteers around the world make a difference in their communities. On International Volunteer Day, we want to pay tribute to the incredible Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers.

There are more than 11,760 active volunteers sharing their knowledge, skills and compassion in communities large and small in nearly every country in the world. All are dedicated to saving and improving lives – whether by responding to disasters and health crises, teaching people first aid, working to reduce the risk of disasters or the spread of disease, or helping vulnerable people to access the services and support they need to live full, safe, and dignified lives.

No matter the task or the humanitarian service offered, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers give their time and skills freely, without discrimination, and work hard to ensure no-one is left behind.

You can read about what motivates some of our volunteers here, and you can find information about your National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society – including about how to become a volunteer - here.

To all our volunteers – past, present and future – IFRC says:

Thanks for your commitment.Thanks for your passion.Thanks for your service.#thanksvolunteers!
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Life can be frightening and stressful for pregnant women, new mothers, and families with young children in a large refugee camp such as Nyarugusu, in Tanzania. But vulnerable women, children and families in this camp can rely on the dedicated volunteers and staff of the Tanzania Red Cross Society, which runs a hospital, health clinics, ante- and post-natal support and paediatric services for the camp’s residents and people living in neighbouring host communities.

Tanzania Red Cross workers also provide emergency medical treatment, health care, shelter, water and sanitation support, and distribute relief items such as blankets and buckets to people in need.

The camp was initially set up to host Congolese refugees in 1997, but has expanded significantly in recent years following the arrival of large numbers of people from Burundi. It is now the third-largest refugee camp in the world, with some 150,000 residents.

Access to health care is improving, thanks to the Tanzania Red Cross with IFRC and other partners, but refugees and host communities alike are still struggling with inadequate support services and infrastructure for the growing population.